Webinar: The Promise of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies in Alleviating Depression, Trauma, and Grief
February 20, 2024, 12:00 PM-1:00 PM Eastern
In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest and effort in exploring the potential for psychedelic compounds to treat an array of mental health conditions faced by veterans and veteran family members. Psychedelic compounds, such as psilocybin, induce a powerful transient alteration in one's state of consciousness and have the potential to induce powerful therapeutic experiences such as emotional breakthroughs and a sense of union or transcendence. When delivered in the context of psychotherapy by trained practitioners in controlled environments, psychedelic-assisted therapies have shown enormous potential for the rapid and long-lasting alleviation of numerous mental health problems, including depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and complicated grief. In this presentation, Dr. Fonzo, Co-Director of the Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy at The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, will discuss the modern treatment framework for using psychedelics to alleviate mental health issues, review recent evidence of clinical benefit, and discuss ongoing studies at the Center that are directly relevant to the mental health needs of veterans and veteran family members.
This webinar is presented by the TAPS Institute for Hope and Healing®.
Presenter
Greg Fonzo, PhD
Dr. Greg Fonzo is Assistant Professor and Co-Director of the Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School. He completed his PhD in Clinical Psychology at the San Diego State University/University of California-San Diego Joint Doctoral Program, and he completed his postdoctoral fellowship in biobehavioral research at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Dr. Fonzo’s laboratory utilizes non-invasive neuroscience tools such as neuroimaging and brain stimulation probes to elucidate neurobiological mechanisms of: a) stress-related mental health disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression; and b) evidence-based treatments such as psychotherapy and antidepressant medications. His research also focuses on designing and establishing mechanisms and efficacy of novel neuroscience-informed interventions, with a particular focus on psychedelic-assisted therapies and neuromodulation.
He was the 2020 winner of the prestigious One Mind Rising Star Award for his novel research on focused ultrasound neuromodulation. His research is funded through the National Institutes of Health, several private foundations, and philanthropic gifts. His work and that of his collaborators have been published in top tier psychiatry/neuroscience journals, including Nature Biotechnology, Nature Human Behaviour, Science Translational Medicine, Molecular Psychiatry, The American Journal of Psychiatry, Neuron, Biological Psychiatry, and JAMA Psychiatry.
About the TAPS Institute for Hope and Healing®
The TAPS Institute for Hope and Healing® is positioned to be the national and worldwide leader in training and education for bereavement professionals, bereaved individuals, and grieving military, veteran and civilian families. The Institute serves as a resource and training center, providing a hub for high-quality collaboration among professionals working in the field of grief and loss.
The Institute is where practical information on coping with loss are accessible for all who seek current strategies, the most effective tools, and best practices for supporting those who are grieving and those who serve the grieving.
The Institute provides workshops, seminars, panel discussions, and more to educate caregivers, mental health professionals, clergy, funeral directors, casualty officers, the bereaved themselves, and so many others on the best ways to travel the grief journey.
TAPS Institute for Hope and Healing® is located at TAPS Headquarters, 3033 Wilson Blvd., Third Floor, Arlington, VA 22201
Email us at Institute@taps.org or give us a call at 800-959-8277 (TAPS) with any questions.